By-pass switch arrangement



May 25, 1965 J. c. HOWELL BY--PASS SWITCH ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed April 8, 1963 1 h- F v am r. $5

V INVENTOR.

JOHN c. HOWELL BY ATTORNEY May 25, 1965 J. c. HOWELL 3,185,804

BY-PASS SWITCH ARRANGEMENT Filed April 8, 1963 t 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN C. HOWELL ATTORNEY the:

mm c.

date a different terminal of two different disconnect type.

switches, the contact structure being particularly useful in connection with by-pass switches for electric regulators, oil circuit breakers, and the like.

In order to facilitate maintenance, testing and inspection of electric equipment such as regulators and reclosing circuit breakers, it is customary to connect the two terminals of such apparatus in series with the power line through two series disconnecting switches each having a pair of relatively movable contacts and to connect a third disconnecting switch across the terminals of the two series switches remote from the electrical apparatus. Such an arrangement provides for service continuity by simply short circuiting the apparatus with a shunt switch and then opening the contacts of the two series switches.

One type of commonly used switch arrangement utilizes a single pull construction wherein a single operating element may be moved by means of a hook-stick or the like so asto operate all three of the above described switch blades in the proper sequence both during shunting and disconnecting of the electrical apparatus and during reconnection and removal of the shunt. Such switch arrangements of the single pull type are complicated mechanically and therefore are expensive .to operate and to maintain properly. In addition, it is sometimes difficult to arrange such switches so as to afford proper space for proper air insulation and the operation of the various switch elements in a desired sequence and at the same time to have the elements arranged so that ready access may be had thereto by the operator. 1

A principal object of this invention is to provide a simplified, compact, inexpensive and improved regulator by-pass type of switch which is adaptable both to crossarm and pole mounting and which in addition is arranged so that the operator may gain ready access to the operating elements by aprocedure which is both safe and convenient.

The switch contact structure in one form according to the invention makes possible the mounting of one contact of two different switches on a single insulator and orients the contacts with respect to each other so that easy and safe operation are possible. Such contact structure may comprise a fixed insulator mounted on a fixed base, a first switch contact affixed to the insulator in coaxial relation thereto, a mounting pad having a mounting surface electrically and mechanically connected to the switch contact in fixed relation, and a second switch contact and terminal element mounted on the flat mounting surface, the mounting surface being tilted toward the switch contact and insulator so that an imaginary line drawn normal to the mounting surface intersects an imaginary extension of the axis of the insulator at an accute angle and thereby renders the switch arrangement readily accessible to the operator and safe under all conceivable operating and mounting conditions.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1-is a perspective view of a pole and its crossarms and depicting a three-phase circuit with a regulator or reclosing circuit breaker in series with each phase and with by-pass switches arranged in each phase according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the three United States Patent 3,185,804 Fatented May 25, 19615 for one phase of the polyphase circuit such as is depicted in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is acne-line schematic diagram showing the circuit of the arrangement depicted in FIG, 2; and in which FIG. 4 is a perspective view of switch contact structure constructed according to this invention by which the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is made possible.

With reference to FIG. 1 the numeral 1 designates a conventional power line pole and the numerals 2 and 3 designate conventional crossarms. The numerals 4, 5 and 6 represent the conductors of the three-phase circuit mounted on the pole 1 and the crossarrn 2.

The oil circuit recloser 7 is connected in series with the conductor 4 while the recloser 8 is connected in series with the conductor 5. In like fashion, recloser 9 is connected in series with the conductor 6.

As is well understood in the art, recloser by-pass switches are arranged so as to by-pass each of the re- .closers 7, 8 and 9 and also to disconnect these units from the associated phase conductor so as to render inspection, maintenance and repair safe and convenient.

With reference to FIG. 2 the numeral 10 designates the channel to which the metal supports Ill and 12 are secured by bolts 1-3 and 14. The structure comprising channels 10, metal supports 11, 12 and' the associated bolts constitutes a base for the by-pass switch of FIG. 2. This base as is apparent from FIG. 1 may be secured to a pole crossarrn by suitable bolts 15 and 16.

The switch arrangement of FIG. 2 is adaptable for mounting to the pole itseif as indicated in -FIG. 1 by means of a "mounting bracket 17 which is tilted at an angle to the axis of the pole 1 as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

With further reference to FIG. 2 four insulators are a mounted on the base and are designated by the numerals 18, 19 and 20 and 21. These insulators are atfixed to the base by any conventional means.

As is apparent from FIG. 2 insulators =19 and 20 support terminal elements 22 and 23, respectively, as well as the pivotal mountings 24 and 25 of the conventional switch blades 26 and 27. Switch blade 26 is provided with a conventional operating ring 28 while switch blade .27 is provided with an operating ring 29. p

In accordance with this invention each of the insulators 18 and 21 is provided with switch contact structure comprising a switch contact designated in FIG. 2 by the numerals 30 and 31. These switch contacts are disposed coaxi-ally with respect to their associated insulators and cooperate with the switch blades -26 and 27 in known manner. Mechanically and electrically connected with the switch contacts 30 and 31 are the tilted mounting pads 32 and 33. As is shown in FIG. 2 these mounting pads may be connected by bolts such as 34 and 35 to a conventional terminal pad forming an integral part oi the contacts 30 and 31. If desired, however, the tilted mounting surfaces 32 and 33 may be formed integrally with the contacts 30 and 31 as shown in FIG. 4.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the mounting surface 32 can be used to support the switch contact 36 and its associated terminal pad 37. In like fashion, the mounting surface 33 may support the hinge 38 of a switch blade 39 which in itself may be conventional if desired. It is apparent that switch blade 39 may swing into and out of engagement with the contact 36 to provide shunt action across the switch blades 26 and 27 and their associated fixed contacts 30 and 31. It will be understood that the terminals 22 and 23 are connected directly to the two terminals of a regulator or a circuit breaker.

It will also be understood that the switch in FIG. 2 is shown in the normal service position with the regulator connected. In order to remove the regulator from the with the contact 36 and the switch blades 26 and 27 are thereafter opened.

In accordance with a feature of the invent-ion, the mounting surfaces 32 and 33 are tilted toward the associated insulators =13 and 21. With reference to FIG. I and in connection with the by-pass switch structure associated with conductor No. 4, it will be appreciated that an operator climbing pole 1 and !who is located below the regulators 7,8 and 9 can by means of a hookstick readily operate each of the switch blades 39, 26 and 27 and the direct-ion Oif pull of his hoohstick will be very convenient with respect to all three switch blades.

With reference to the regulator by passswitch associated with conductor No. 6 the same is true since the tilt of each mounting surface is toward the insulators and since the unit itself is arranged in opposed relation to the switch associated with conductor No. 4. In this manner and in accordance with one feature of the invention ready access to all the switch blades comprising each regulator switch is obtained.

The mounting bracket 17 is tilted at an angle so that the downward pull on switch blade 39 is readily possible and sothat switch blade 39 associated with the middle phase of the polyphase circuit swings in a plane which is substantially vertical. In addition, the switch associated with the conductor No. 5 and which is mounted on the mounting bracket 17 on pole 1 is so arranged that the switch blades 26 and 27 may readily be engaged by a hookstick operated by a lineman dis-posed on pole 1 below the oil circuit reclosers 7, 8 and 9. In this manner efficient and safe maintenance, inspection and servicing of the regulators 7, 8 and 9 is achieved. With further reference to FIG. 2, it will be understood that the tilted angle of the mounting surfaces 32 and 33 causes the blade 39 to swing'in a plane which is spaced from the swing end of the blades 26 and 27 by a safe and suificient clearance distance. Furthermore, reference to FIG. 1 will readily indicate that the tilt of bracket 17 is approximately the same as the acute angle defined by an imaginary line drawn normal to the mounting surfaces 32 and 33 and which intersects an imaginary line which extends the axes of insulators 18 and 21 and their associated switch contacts.

The contact structure depicted in FIG. 4 is slightly different from that shown in FIG. 2 in that the mounting pads having tilted mounting surfaces are formed integrally with the contacts 30 and 31 rather than separately as depicted in FIG. 2.

While I have shown and described particular embodiments of the invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto and intend in the appended claim to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. a

The embodiments of the invention'in which an exclunive property or privilege is claimed are defined as folows:

A by-pass switch arrangement comprising a base, a first pair of insulators mounted on said base, a first pair of switch contacts respectively affixed to said insulators and in coaxial relation, a pair of mounting pads respectively connected with said first switch contacts, each mounting pad having a flat mounting surface-tilted toward the associated one of said first pair of contacts at an acute angle so that an imaginary line drawn from and normal to each of said mounting surfaces and in a direction away from said base intersects an imaginary extension of the axis of the associated insulator and contact at an acute angle, a third fixed switch contact mounted on one of said mounting surfaces normal to said surface, a switch blade pivotally mounted normal to the other mounting surface and arranged .to swing into and out of engagement with said third fixed contact through a plane which includes the imaginary line normal to said mounting surfaces, a second pair of insulators mounted on said base and disposed with respect to said first pair of insulators in the direction in which said mounting surfaces are tilted, and a pair of switch blades pivotally mounted on said second pair of insulators respectively, said pair of switch blades being arranged to swing into and out of engagement with said fixed pair of switch contacts respectively and being disposed so that the swing ends thereof inscribe an are which is spaced from the imaginary lines which are normal respectively to said mounting surfaces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/42 Heinrich 20()--2 1/63 Field ZOO-48 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.v ROBERT K. SCI-IAEFER, Examiner. 

